Microsoft grants Windows XP yet another reprieve

[renovation]

It adds six months by extending media shipments to OEMs through July 2009

Microsoft has extended the availability of Windows XP on new PCs by six months, the company confirmed today.

Computer makers that "downgrade" machines from Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate to Windows XP Professional will be able to obtain media for the latter through the end of July 2009, a Microsoft spokeswoman said Friday.

The new date is a change in policy. Previously, Microsoft had planned to halt XP Professional media shipments to major computer makers after Jan. 31, 2009.

"As more customers make the move to Windows Vista, we want to make sure that they are making that transition with confidence and that it is as smooth as possible. Providing downgrade media for a few more months is part of that commitment," the spokeswoman said in an e-mail.

The Jan. 31 date is also the last day when smaller companies, dubbed "system builders," will be allowed to purchase Windows XP licenses to install on the machines they assemble. The system-builder deadline has not changed, the spokeswoman added. It remains Jan. 31.http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9116201&source=NLT_PM&nlid=8

this is no shock to me i figured Micosoft would find they screwed up and this proves it. vista is a joke of a OS people really dont want it even if they keep trying to push it on us. it not user friendly and a has a lot bling people don't care for.

[lindysd]

i agree!:pfft:

[zippyjuan]

I am starting to think again about building a new computer. The one I have is six years old (Athlon XP 2400+) and nearing seven. The hopefully soon-to-be-released Nahelem processors sound pretty cool. I am still debating the OS for it. I like XP because I am familiar with it. I know I have heard criticisms about Vista but those were also around when XP came out and now everyone seems to like it. Their next OS will probably not be for a couple years or so more. Photoshop will be my most used application so a more powerful processor and more memory will be nice (two gigs now). I haven't worked out the whole configuration yet since there is not enough info on the platform yet.

What do people think? Maybe just get my current XP license transfered over to the new one? That would save a few bucks too.

[Key Keeper]

From what I can tell from personal use, Vista is just fine. Yes it is a resource hog and uses a lot of memory but why have a machine with a bunch of ram and never use it. Besides the only real hog is dwm.exe which is automaticaly toned down when you really need more resources like in games. Yes all the menus that your used to in XP have been moved around, but remember when XP came out? Every one said "this sux! why did microshaft have to change all the menus around when I was comfortable with 2000?!" And the whole gripe about program compatability, damn just run that OLD dusty program in XP compatibility mode...Everyone said that Catia V5 R17 (Even Dasault) wouldnt work on Vista...well thats odd works just fine when installed in safe mode and then used in normal mode. With the cost of ram bottoming out and machines getting so darn cheap, why not have an OS that looks great and actually uses all this abundance of hardware? Ive used all flavors of windows, a bulk of linux, solaris, and yes.....OS X and I must say that Vista is a pretty good all around OS with great eye candy. If you use it for a while then go back to XP you will feel like your driving a 1972 Ford LTD station wagon (yes dependable and can take a hit from a train)when your used driving a Lexus (Sleek and dependable). Just MO though....shoot holes in it.

[attgig]

Yes it is a resource hog and uses a lot of memory but why have a machine with a bunch of ram and never use it.

or, you could never have to buy that extra ram and just use your computer the way it is....

I pretty much had to build a new system to run vista, when I could've just stuck with my old computer just fine running XP. Looking back, that's what I should've done, instead of making the mistake to build a new compy (and the only thing that really takes advantage of the new system resources is vista).

it's silly, when my previous computer could handle 3d/fps games perfectly well, but couldn't handle vista.

[Key Keeper]

Couple questions, whats your old comp specs and do you game or use any memory extensive proggies?

If you game on vista, if you alt-tab out of games (being one of the most mem extensive apps) what is the mem usage of DWM.exe? Being that thats the hole that Vista throws all your mem down. I play Bioshock, F.E.A.R., COD4, and BF2 @ full eye candy with a XFX 7800gt in vista and its very smooth. I do this with a slow proc (2.4ghz CD) and only 2gb of ram as well. I understand that XP does run well on older hardware but being that most "techies" like to have hardware that falls in the last 2-3 years of performance at minimum would think that vista would be fine with most games or other apps with hungry processes. I do agree that anything under 2gig of ram is a waste of time with Vista but seeing the prices of memory @ rock bottom it almost seems unreasonable not to run more than 1gb. I do know that mb bus speed plays a huge role in vista. Anyhting without a PCI-E slot or at least DDR400 has no business running vista Just my 2cents though.

[DarkFury]

For me, there is no point in buying Vista.

Every program I currently run, runs just fine on Windows XP that is paid for. Vista still does not offer me enough of an improvement or features that I value to justify its cost.

So what if she's an old beater... She's MY beater and I love her. :heh:

[ray]

For me, there is no point in buying Vista.

Every program I currently run, runs just fine on Windows XP that is paid for. Vista still does not offer me enough of an improvement or features that I value to justify its cost.



:agree:

[Airencracken]

Linux. Need I say more?

[Jeffbx]

KK is correct - there's nothing WRONG with Vista. I use it on one of my machines @ work & it runs fine.

However, there's no real advantage to upgrading from XP that I can see. At least with 2000 => XP there was a bunch of new functionality. With Vista, it looks nicer, but that's about it.

My company isn't even evaluating Vista yet for desktop use... as far as I'm concerned, we'll probably try to switch from XP straight to Windows 7.